Episode 1: Grand Final Faith
This week we hear the story of Ian Synman, a Jewish Melburnian and a football player for the St Kilda Football Club. Ian found himself in the difficult position of having to choose between practicing his faith on Yom Kippur or playing in the 1966 VFL premiership game. Ian’s community were supportive of his decision and were eager to see him succeed in the sport they all loved – so much so that they were distracted in their prayers on the holiest day of the year!
The Jewish Museum of Australia will re-open in January, with their MIRKA exhibition setting hearts aflame from Valentine’s Day. Visit jewishmuseum.com.au to learn more.
Would you like to read the text of this episode again? No problem. Below you can read the story, Grand Final Faith.
“Born in 1938, Ian played for Melbourne Grammar before joining the St Kilda Football Club as centre half-back. He played 123 consecutive games with the Saints, wearing the number nine. Ian wore this guernsey in the 1966 Grand Final, which fell on Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. He had deliberated over whether to play and not attend synagogue, and consulted Rabbi John Levi, who said ‘I can’t make up your mind for you. You must do so for yourself.’
And so he played. Our volunteer guide Sonya Oberman recalls: ‘I was sitting in synagogue surrounded by my four daughters and suddenly a few men started to go out, come back, then talk to everyone around them. The Rabbi got very annoyed, and said “Stop all this coming and going, you’re destroying the sanctity of the day. I will tell you the final score when it comes to hand.” But how, he wondered, would he do so? Via a direct line from God? Not quite – the caretaker, who wasn’t Jewish, could listen to the portable wireless, get the score, and tell somebody in the foyer, who could then convey it to the Rabbi.
It was just after five o’clock, with the synagogue full, when the Rabbi rose and entered the pulpit. There was dead silence. He said, “St Kilda has won by one point.” You could hear the jaws drop! And then he said, “Now you can pray properly for the rest of the day.” Which we did!’
To this day, AFL has a loyal following in Melbourne’s Jewish community – with many still waiting for another St Kilda premiership win.”
The tragic story of Thomas Chirnside who came to Australia with nothing but the bible, a little money and optimism. Joined by his brother Andrew and wife to be Mary, the friends successfully built a pastoral empire, bred famous race horses and acquired respect, fame and fortune. However, this was short lived and the three met devastating ends.